Investigate the influence of ultra high performance concrete application to the bending behavior of reinforced concrete beams

Contribution which will be obtained from UHPC (Ultra High Performance Concrete) plate application over strength and behavior of reinforced concrete girders with deficient bending strength was researched within scope of this dissertation study. Reinforced concrete girders which were evaluated within scope of dissertation study were tested under monotonic increasing loads. With this context firstly variables of experimental study was considered and literature scanning was implemented. Then experimental evaluation stage of study was initiated. With this context firstly reinforced concrete girders to be tested were produced. Then UHPC plates which will be used for strengthening reinforced concrete girders were produced. Experimental study consists of two stages. Firstly real sized UHPC plates which will be used for reinforcing were tested for determining bending capacity of plates alone. Evaluation of performance difference to be obtained due to change in thickness was aimed in this study. UHPC plates with different thicknesses were applied to reinforced girder members in second stage and bending tests were realized for these members. These tests which were realized in laboratory environment were implemented in Dokuz Eylül University Engineering Faculty Civil Engineering Department Structural Engineering Laboratory. Four reinforced concrete girders were tested in experimental study. Load- displacement relations, ductility, energy consumptions of girders were compared with each other and with reference member as result of experimental study. Contribution of reinforcement by UHPC concretes for reinforced concrete girders with bending deficiency with respect to strength and behavior was examined and results were compared with results which were obtained by ANSYS finite elements program. Finally several recommendations about study were presented.